Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-19
INAUGURAL SPEECHES.
Continued from Third Page.
able and indispensable means OF develop

of their power-the instruments of their
convenience-and designed for their
service and not their subsection. Aud il
was clearly the will of the trainers of our
organic law to throw them open to the
laws of competition in every particular
making them evoke their own checks and
regulators, as the true theory for theiI
management. But these constitutional
inhibitions and statutory requirements
are nullified by tie simple will of corpora.
lions of our own creation, and possessing
no powers except such as are conferred
upon them by law.
1t ls the theory Of our government that
the constitution shall be oDeyed-tbat
the laws made ia pursuance thereof shall
be eXecuted-and until they are repealed
no party has the right To nullity them, or
deny their enforcement. If these laws,
from inherent defect, or absence of
power in the state, canno. be exc
cuted they should be eliminated from
our statute books If they are wise and
just they should result in securing the
timely and efficient eXertiou of such con-
troll es the state may have the right to
claim over these corporations, and no
power on earth should be suffered to
clog or impede its assertion. If they are
to be operated in such manner that the
products raised out of the soil and the
commodities created by the industry Of
the people are taken from the producer,
and inure alone to those who receive
their earnings, they become of small
practical value to the people at large.
We should be unwilling to permit
them, by an arrogation of authority Su-
perior to that exercised by the state, to
abolish the wholesome laws of supply
and demand, and advance or depress at
will the price of every commodity raised
by the people. 1t is the consumer, in
every instance, who must pay for every
factor that enters into the cost of a com
mCdity, and it would, therefore, be ruin
GUS in its results to the interests Of the
whole people.
We are endeavoring to induce capital
lists to supply US with additional mills
and factories, but prudent business men
will not build them with so liberal q
hand, knowing that this unbridled power
can shut their doors and render them
proflless at its pleasure.
The fleets of such methods upon the
lumber, cattle and cotton interests would
be only little less injurious. In regard
to the latter, while these corporate and
manufacturing companies are made rich
by it, the producers waste their lives
and fortunes in raising this article st
cost greater than its selling price; ard
yet it is an element of the largest manu-
featuring interest in the world, the most
valuable article of commerce, q currency
within itself, and the greatest boon to
human industry.
These are all sources of wealth to our
people, involving immense capital, and
supplying employment to an immense
volume of labor, and should receive the
fostering care of the government, and not
be dominated by any single interest,
however important, within the legitimate
sphere of its operation of usefulness.
Shall it be said that Texas has invited
power that can, at its will, deprive the
citizen of the reward of his honest in
duStry in his own state and at his own
homestead, and the states arm which be
has toiled to nerve, cannot be extended to
afford him redre SIS? II so, it will be
confession that the wisdom and courage
which achieved political independence,
has degenerated into that stupidity and
unmanliness which ,forfeits material in
dependence also. 1t would seem that
these corporations ought not to be I'M
mindful of the solcitude so recently
manifested for their rights, privileges
and imrunities, and should not wait to
be admonished to do full justice to the
people of Texas by spontaneous act,
as broad and general as the circum:
stances warrant, just and beneticent.
And it behooves them to cultivate q
proper respect for the law in the people,
by au exhibition of proper respect for the
law in themselves. If they do not pro-
70 ~ ~ ~ tn 1prr ct 20
with what grace can they claim protec-
ton against those who may asSail their
Just rights?
For the first time in the history Of our
state, we have seen the laboring classes |
enlisting under the broad banner of limo
walton, determined to meet combination
with combination, in fierce and desper |
ste conflict against the memorable de
mands Of system deemed by them sub
verslve of the philosophy of mutual
rights in business; and, as we cannot af |
ford TO see our state made the battle |
ground Of disorder and anarchy, while
leaving nothing undone TO repress vio-
lenCe, it is our solemn Cuty to remove all |
Just grounds tor its provocation, in order
that we may restore confidence and es-
tablish better feeling by providing, If
possible, remedy against oppression by
capital, or riots DV laborers. The more
so, since in the contests between these
warning factions, it is the innocent, in
every instance, who suffer most. The
farming class, and business of all kinds,
pay tribute by being taxed In increased
freight rates, to make good the loss in
running expenses, and otherwise.
However desirable they may be for the
development of our state, we cannot have
a railroad built by every mans house 1t
is all the more necessary, therefore, that
the people shall have good public high
ways well kept, by improving, if possible,
our road laws-now so badly in need of
revision. Turnpikes made the valleys of
Virginia, Kentucky and Middle Tennes-
see rich, long before they had any rail-
roads. Good highways are worth more,
in inducing immigration and capital than I
all the speeches and publications that :
can be made about the undeveloped re-
sources of our state. They increase the
value of property and add greatly to the
revenues of the state-stimulate producI
ton by saving intellectually in time and
money to the producers-and all business
and industrial interests are intimately in |
voved in the matter. {
The ownership of land is not only an s
element of great political power, but no I